Cooktown – current water temperature and swimming conditions

Water Temperature in Cooktown: Daily Trends, Historical Records, and Forecast

✅ Water in this range is comfortably warm and widely considered ideal for swimming. Most people can stay in the water for a long time without feeling cold. It works well for families, recreational swimming, and active water sports such as swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding.

It’s important to note that these swimming tips and recommendations apply only in settled weather. When air temperatures drop below 20°C — and sometimes even below 25°C — swimming can feel uncomfortable, even when water temperatures are relatively high.

Water Temperature Over the Last 30 Days

Water temperatures in Cooktown have been gradually cooling over the past month, with a further drop recorded during the last week.

According to our forecast, Sea water temperature in Cooktown will be 23.6°C in the next 7 days. See the table below for daily data for the upcoming week.

Table of Daily Sea Temperature Data

Annual Water Temperature Overview by Month

Monthly Water Temp Ranges

30°C

25°C

20°C

15°C

10°c

5°C

0°C

Annual Water Temperature Trend

Cooktown sits where the Endeavour River meets the Coral Sea, and the water here reflects the tropical Far North Queensland climate. Sea temperatures are warm for most of the year, averaging around 27–30 °C during the hotter months from November to April. In the cooler dry season, roughly May to October, the water eases back slightly but still stays pleasant, usually around 23–26 °C. From a temperature perspective alone, the Coral Sea off Cooktown is comfortable for swimming across all seasons, with winter still feeling mild by Australian coastal standards.